Capitol riot committee releases resolution calling for Steve Bannon to face criminal contempt charges

The House Select Committee investigating the January 6th riots at the United States Capitol has taken one step closer to getting former Trump political strategist Steve Bannon hit with criminal charges.

Via Politico's Kyle Cheney, the committee on Monday issued a report and resolution recommending a referral of criminal charges for Bannon, who so far has defied its subpoenas ordering his testimony.

The committee's report began by detailing the reasons it is seeking Bannon's testimony.

"Mr. Bannon appears to have had multiple roles relevant to this investigation, including his role in constructing and participating in the 'stop the steal' public relations effort that motivated the attack, his efforts to plan political and other activity in advance of January 6th, and his participation in the events of that day from a 'war room' organized at the Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. Hotel," the committee writes. "Although he was a private citizen not employed by the White House at the time, he reportedly spoke with Mr. Trump directly regarding the plans for January 6th on at least one occasion."

The committee then outlined the legal statute that it says "makes clear that a witness summoned before Congress must appear or be 'deemed guilty of a misdemeanor' punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to 1 year."

The full committee is set to vote on a resolution recommending criminal charges for Bannon on Tuesday.

Read the full report here (PDF).